Lilly completes acquisition of Centessa to advance orexin R2 agonists
- Acquisition completed June 24, 2026.
- Centessa is a clinical-stage company developing orexin receptor 2 agonists targeting narcolepsy and other sleep-wake disorders.
- Lilly says it will pursue Centessa's clinical portfolio with urgency within its neuroscience platform.
- Lilly's release includes a caution that the acquisition and drug development carry substantial risks and no guarantee of commercial success.
Transaction completion
Eli Lilly and Company announced the successful completion of its acquisition of Centessa Pharmaceuticals plc on June 24, 2026.
Scientific rationale
Centessa is a clinical-stage company developing orexin receptor 2 agonists as a new class of medicines for the treatment of narcolepsy and potentially other sleep-wake disorders. Lilly quoted the orexin system's fundamental role in governing wakefulness, alertness and the stability of sleep, noting that disruption can be profoundly disabling.
Development plans and risks
Lilly said it intends to pursue Centessa's clinical-stage portfolio with urgency as part of its neuroscience development plans. The press release also included a cautionary statement that there are substantial risks and uncertainties in implementing the acquisition and in the process of drug research, development and commercialization, and that there can be no guarantee the acquisition will yield commercially successful products.
Source: Lilly